Beach in Agusan del Norte bursts into flames

Residents were urged to keep away from a beach in Magallanes, Agusan del Norte after the water and sand burst into flames and kept on burning until the next day.

According to Cedric Castillo's report for "24 Oras" on Thursday, the Department of Energy (DOE) conducted an initial investigation into the phenomenon and said that workers who were testing the soil for an upcoming bridge connecting Magallanes and Butuan City may have ignited methane gas beneath the beach.

A drilling operator, Rogelio Pailago, caught the soil-testing gone wrong on camera.

"Naghukay kami hanggang 66 meters. Tapos, nu'ng pinull-out na namin, doon na namin napansin na parang may kumukulo sa ilalim na parang kumukulong tubig," he said.

Smoke and water was seen spewing out from the tube used to drill into the ground.

There was also a burst of soil and water from the shore nearby.

Later on, the entire beach and nearby waters went up in flames and kept burning overnight until the next morning.

The DOE in Mindanao has yet to determine how much methane is stored beneath the beach.

For safety, residents have been asked to keep away from the area. — Margaret Claire Layug/BM, GMA News